I am a teacher in a school - is this right?

[TTlover]

Hi all.

I am a primary school teacher (UK) and after the racism that has been happening in the football, I taught the children in my class a lovely lesson on equality.

The children then made equality posters and anti racism posters.

We then went to put the posters up around the school.

The head teacher approached me and asked all of the children to take them down.

I feel really upset by this. It wasn’t an issue with the blue tac on the walls as there are always posters going up from other classes.

I had to turn all of my children around, ask them to take their posters down and then come back up to the classroom with the children confused.

Perhaps I should have asked first, but I really didn’t see it being an issue.

Did I cross the line? Now I feel anxious.

What did the head say @TTlover?

Op did you meet with the head? What did they say?

The HT said that she didn’t want things being stuck around the school due to health and safety but is more than happy to share the posters with the lesson content on the school website.

@TTlover I think some posters on this thread have brought up some very valid points that you have dismissed. If you could just drop the defensive stance and see that you have got a long way to go (as have I) in your understanding of how to deal with and teach about such important topics. I have taught for nearly 20 years and I still don’t feel like I could really do a lesson like this justice and would never dream of just dropping it in on a whim with a poster stuck on the end for good measure. Hopefully you can look back objectively and see it for what it is - poor handling and poor judgement with good intentions.

The HT said that she didn’t want things being stuck around the school due to health and safety but is more than happy to share the posters with the lesson content on the school website

Good so that's that resolved then.
Communication works wonders.
The head should have said that when you were actually putting them up with the children so that the children would also understand why it wasn't allowed.

@TTlover it's usually something simple. Im glad they are going to share your lesson.

How’s eco posters more health and safety?

@User5827372728 great point !

@User5827372728 in my place of worknwe are not currently allowed to have any paper on the walls which is not laminated due to Covid. Maybe this is why? When laminated it can be wiped clean whereas paper will hold germs.

@TTlover Great news that the HT communicated back with you about this and there is the potential for the posters to go on the website (what you shared looked great to me), in the newsletter etc ("well done to Class 3 for their excellent work" etc).

There has been some discussion about reflective practice on this thread. I wonder if the HT, given a few hours, reflected that in fact, their initial response may need adjusting, even if the OP had initially taken them by surprise. We shall never know.

OP, this whole thing has probably got you thinking about what you yourself can do on an ongoing basis to tackle racism in society through your job in education? What about aiming to become a headteacher? Good luck

[quote nongnangning]@TTlover Great news that the HT communicated back with you about this and there is the potential for the posters to go on the website (what you shared looked great to me), in the newsletter etc ("well done to Class 3 for their excellent work" etc).

There has been some discussion about reflective practice on this thread. I wonder if the HT, given a few hours, reflected that in fact, their initial response may need adjusting, even if the OP had initially taken them by surprise. We shall never know.

OP, this whole thing has probably got you thinking about what you yourself can do on an ongoing basis to tackle racism in society through your job in education? What about aiming to become a headteacher? Good luck[/quote]
OP has reflected upon nothing that much is clear.

Shes been told what she wants to hear from the head and it is very evident any posts suggesting that she was in the wrong have been absolutely ignored or defended by some contradictory and arrogant rebuttals.

In my school, this would just be about not wanting 30 (or however many) posters randomly appearing on walls in the public areas. If every class did it, there'd be hundreds and it would look scruffy, and they'd all have to be taken down by someone before the summer holidays.

Maybe you'd have had a better response if you'd asked permission to produce a proper display in an agreed area?

Maybe the teacher doing eco posters had asked permission?

Maybe some of the posters were contentious. I am not keen on the one you posted here that says 'black and white lives matter'.

I am pleased that the Head is happy for you to share the lesson plan, but do be careful that you are not irritating colleagues as most will have addressed recent events with their classes in their own way I'm sure. I know I have and would be surprised if a colleague gave me a lesson plan for this - it does imply that I haven't already done it, or that I haven't done it very well.